On politics in the Golden State

New 'super PAC' backs independent candidates

May 18, 2012 | 12:43
pm

A new 'super PAC' formed to support independent candidates around the country has announced its first round of endorsements, including Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher for San Diego mayor and Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks for an open congressional seat in her area.

The group, dubbed icPurple, bills itself as the first super PAC dedicated to moderate candidates with no party affiliation. Both Fletcher and Parks recently switched their registration from Republican to decline to state.

icPurple has launched a television and online media campaign to help Fletcher and plans to do the same for Parks. It also is backing Chad Condit, son of former Democratic Rep. Gary Condit, for a Central Valley congressional seat and Chad Walsh for an Assembly seat from Silicon Valley. A spokeswoman for the group said it has not yet made a decision on whether to also back former Assemblyman Anthony Adams of Hesperia, a former Republican running for Congress in San Bernardino County.

Super PACS, enabled by a recent Supreme Court decision known as Citizens United, are allowed to accept unlimited donations but must operate independently of a candidate’s campaign. The super PACS, which are playing heavily in the presidential election and a few other races, are controversial, and there are efforts in California and elsewhere to amend the U.S. Constitution to forbid them.

Leaders of icPurple (named for what comes from combining the colors red and blue, representing Republicans and Democrats, respectively) say the group is “dedicated to the election of independent leaders” in hopes of ending partisan gridlock in Washington and statehouses around the nation.